Related BBC sites

In pictures: Madeira floods

More than 30 people have been killed in floods and mudslides after torrential rains hit the Portuguese-administered island of Madeira. The flood waters filled streets in the centre of the main city Funchal.

Many people were rescued from the torrent but more than 60 have been taken to hospital

Homes and businesses in Funchal suffered extensive damage. Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates said help would be sent from the mainland.

The flooding and landslides swept away cars and knocked down houses. Phone lines were also affected, forcing rescue services to make appeals over radio stations.

The waters rushed towards the port in Funchal. The island, about 625 miles (1,005km) southwest of Lisbon, is a popular tourist destination.

Firefighters use a dinghy to rescue people in Funchal, which has been reduced to a "ghost town"

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.